European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform

SMEunited represents crafts and SMEs in Europe, with around 65 member organisations from over 30 European countries. It is a recognised cross-sectoral European social partner and speaks on behalf of the 26.1 million SMEs in Europe which employ more than 89 million people. SMEunited's work promotes the integration of circular principles into SME business models. It advocates for enabling policies and frameworks at all levels. It translates complex EU frameworks into actionable guidance for SMEs and provides decision makers with reality checks on boosters and blockers for SMEs' circular business models.

Andreas Brieger is Director for Climate, Energy and Environment Policy at SMEunited, representing European SMEs in the green transition. With extensive experience in EU and national public affairs, he previously worked for German and European social partners on climate, energy and economic policy. He is a member of the European Commission’s Ecodesign Forum and the Expert Group on Circular Economy / Sustainable Production and Consumption. A strong advocate for a fair and effective green transition, Andreas is passionate about making circularity a success story for people, SMEs and the planet.

Copa and Cogeca are the united voice of farmers and agri-cooperatives in the EU. Together, they ensure that EU agriculture is sustainable, innovative and competitive, guaranteeing food security for half a billion people throughout Europe. Copa represents over 23 million farmers and their families whilst Cogeca represents the interests of 22 000 agricultural cooperatives. They have 66 member organisations from the EU Member States. Copa and Cogeca are among the founding members of the European Bioeconomy Alliance.

Oana Neagu is Director of the General Affairs team at Copa Cogeca. The team covers topics related to the circular economy and bioeconomy, the environment and climate change, research and innovation, food waste, etc. Oana is an agricultural engineer and has a Master’s degree in business administration. She previously worked at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture as a policy officer, in charge of managing market measures. Prior to joining the Commission in 2006, she was the adviser on European integration at the Ministry of Agriculture in Romania and was involved in preparing Romania’s accession to the European Union.

She is a member of the management committee of the multi-stakeholder platform on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU and actively involved in various expert groups on the bioeconomy, forestry and rural development.

RREUSE is an international network representing social enterprises active in the field of re-use, repair and recycling. Drawing on the first-hand experience of its members, RREUSE's mission is to ensure that policies, innovative partnerships and the sharing of good practices promote and develop the role of social enterprises in the circular economy. RREUSE's vision for Europe is built around circular activities that foster social value and create locally inclusive jobs whilst supporting vulnerable individuals.

RREUSE has 31 members across 29 European countries and the USA.

Neva Nahtigal is the Director of RREUSE. In addition to day-to-day management, she is involved in the organisation’s strategic development and leads its policy team. Neva worked internationally as a policy, research and communications consultant specialising in social and economic justice, sustainability and human rights. She then spent six years in the international office of a global civil society network focusing on improving working conditions in the garment industry before joining RREUSE in May 2023. She holds Masters degrees in Media Studies and Public Policy.

Circular Change (CC) is a Slovenia-based think and do tank connecting ideas, people and action. Since 2016, CC has been pioneering the circular and bioeconomy transition worldwide. From international Circular Change Conferences with 500+ participants to co-creating national roadmaps, Circular Academies and CE Hubs, CC turns vision into systemic impact. They integrate creative industries, science and policy, bridging bioeconomy and circular economy to co-create regenerative and inclusive futures. As co-creator of Transition Brokers and originators of Circular Diplomacy, CC promotes network governance and collaborative leadership. Active in EU projects and global dialogues, they bring a systemic, human and creative spirit to every transformation.

Ladeja Godina Košir is an internationally recognised systemic thinker and transition broker, and Founder and Executive Director of Circular Change. For eight years she was Co-Chair of the ECESP. She co-creates CE roadmaps, foresight exercises and hubs, advancing network governance and circular diplomacy across Europe and beyond. An inspiring keynote speaker, lecturer, author and board member, she bridges bioeconomy and circular economy in policy, business and culture. Ladeja led five Circular Change International Conferences, consulted governments from Serbia to Chile, and chaired the BIOeast Circular Bioeconomy Foresight 2050 Expert Group. She serves as Chair of the International Council of the CE Forum Austria, and Member of Chapter Zero Slovenia and other international CE boards. Finalist of the Circular Leadership Award 2018 (Davos WEF), featured in #EUwomen4future (2020) and recipient of the Elle Green Style Award 2025.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. Backed by evidence and powered by partnerships across sectors and regions, it is a systems change organisation aiming to reshape markets.

For circular economy solutions to scale, they need innovation, infrastructure and investment. The Foundation identifies where those solutions are ready to take hold and what conditions are needed to unlock their impact at regional and global levels. The Foundation is moving beyond pilots to accelerate global implementation and drive long-term value.

As an independent charity, it mobilises business and policy leaders and helps them to drive the most effective solutions faster and at scale.

Jocelyn Blériot has been with the Foundation since it was set up in 2010, having spent 15 years in the media and publishing industry. Initially in charge of editorial matters, overseeing content development and messaging, he lead the organisation’s institutional engagement and the work with national governments across the Foundation's offices (Europe, Latin America, China, North America). He manages the relationship with supra-national bodies such as the European Commission, the United Nations, the G7/20 Resource Alliance, the OECD and the World Economic Forum. He currently holds the role of Deputy Lead for the China Council for International Cooperation on Development (CCICED) Special Policy Study on Circular Economy, and sits on the international advisory network of the Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs (TESS).

FEAD represents the private waste and resource management industry across Europe. Its members, national waste management associations and companies, operate across the entire value chain, including collection, sorting, recycling, recovery and disposal. FEAD brings together around 3 000 private waste management companies, which operate in 60% of Europe’s municipal waste markets and 75% of industrial and commercial waste, supporting over 500 000 local jobs. FEAD’s vision is to shift Europe's overall material use towards recycled materials, promoting sustainable waste management as a cornerstone of the circular economy, contributing to environmental protection, resource efficiency and climate goals.

Paolo Campanella is Secretary-General of FEAD, leading the organisation’s advocacy for a stronger and more coherent European legislative framework to support the circular economy. With over ten years of experience across multiple areas of the waste sector, including plant design, operational management, consultancy and public affairs, he brings a comprehensive understanding of the industry's challenges and opportunities. Trained as an environmental engineer, he has managed the design and permitting of waste treatment facilities and assessed project proposals within the public administration of the Province of Bari (Italy). He previously served as a board member of the Italian Association of Environmental Engineers. 

Interact represents all programmes run by Interreg, the EU’s instrument for territorial cooperation, helping regions and communities work together across borders on shared challenges. Through its Smarter and Greener Europe networks, Interact connects programmes and projects advancing the circular economy, from resource efficiency and waste reduction to digital and innovation-driven circular solutions. It facilitates learning, exchange and policy linkages, ensuring that results from cooperation shape regional and EU transitions alike. By linking circular innovation with territorial development, Interact showcases how collaboration across borders delivers both smarter systems and greener outcomes, turning Europe’s circular ambitions into practical, place-based action.

Nicolas Garnier is Thematic Capitalisation Manager at Interact, leading the Greener Europe policy network and supporting Interreg programmes as they step up their impact on sustainability, climate and the circular economy. He facilitates cooperation and knowledge exchange amongst regions and EU actors, helping translate project results into policy learning and strategic action. With experience in environmental governance, innovation and regional cooperation, Nicolas drives capitalisation efforts that connect circular solutions across Europe, from local experimentation to EU-wide policy dialogue. His work focuses on making cooperation a catalyst for a greener, more resilient and circular Europe.

Circul’R was established in 2017 and is now a leading voice on the circular economy in France and internationally thanks to the close links it has established with all stakeholders: large companies, VSEs/SMEs, producer responsibility organisations (PROs), public institutions and local governments. Circul’R is firmly committed to supporting organisations - whether public or private - in their transition to circular models and modes of operation.

To achieve this mission, Circul’R works at three levels: 
1. Training - Raising awareness of the circular economy among managers and employees and enhancing their skills in this area.
2. Leading coalitions - Creating and leading coalitions of committed players to set new standards in circularity.
3. Consulting - Support private and public organisations in setting up circular economy projects, from roadmap to operations.

Circul'R has a team of 40 circular economy experts.

With over 10 years of experience in sustainability and the circular economy, Jean has worked across NGOs, public institutions and consulting. He started at the NGO GERES, supporting access to energy  projects, then joined ReLondon to coordinate circular economy initiatives for the Municipality of London, including the “London’s Food Footprint” study. At Circul’R, he now leads projects with private companies and public authorities in France and internationally, supporting the design and implementation of circular strategies. He actively facilitates dialogue between sectors to overcome barriers to circularity, notably through coalitions and collaborative projects. As part of the ECESP Coordination Group, he aims to foster cross-sectoral cooperation and share field insights to advance Europe’s circular transition.

The Rediscovery Centre is Ireland's national centre for the circular economy. Since 2004, the centre has been leading Ireland’s transition to a circular economy and low-carbon, sustainable future. Based in Europe’s first circular economy demonstration centre, the Rediscovery Centre acts as an innovation hub, delivering education, providing research and enabling policy, citizen engagement and collaboration to support community action. Recognising that a just transition requires a social movement, they use their skills and expertise to ensure that all people benefit from, and can participate in, the circular economy. Their work is supported by key strategic partners and includes a range of public engagement, education and research programmes, workshops and training courses across broad disciplines.

Appointed Chief Executive of the Rediscovery Centre in February, Claire brings over 20 years' experience in the sector to this role and is a dedicated advocate for circular living. Claire actively contributes to national and international policy development, groundbreaking circular economy research and education initiatives in Ireland and beyond, and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Waste Management.

Sitra – The Finnish Innovation Fund is a pioneer in advancing the circular economy globally. As the initiator of the world’s first national circular economy road map, Sitra addresses societal challenges that shape our world. Their international programmes collaborate with partners to solve global challenges, enhance well-being and boost economic growth within the Earth’s carrying capacity. They drive systemic change through research, innovation and stakeholder collaboration. Promoting circular business models, skills, jobs and policies, they actively contribute to EU-level initiatives such as the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP). Globally, Sitra advances circularity through the EU Circular Economy Resource Centre (EU CERC) and the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF), a leading annual conference and global platform for knowledge exchange and partnership building, initiated by Sitra.

Kari Herlevi is Programme Director for Global Circular Economy at Sitra. He leads Sitra's international efforts to advance the circular economy, focusing on systemic change, foresight and cross-sectoral partnerships. Kari has played a key role in shaping global circular economy dialogues, including the WCEF and the EU CERC. With a background in sustainability and innovation policy, he works to align well-being and economic growth with planetary boundaries. Kari is a frequent speaker at international events and a driving force behind Sitra’s global initiatives to promote regenerative and inclusive circular solutions.